2010 UNDER CONSTRUCTION!

The biggest and certainly the most all consuming news of 2010 for me is new studio construction. After a year on Gabriola  I am in the process of building a studio overlooking beautiful Degnan Bay. I look forward to being in the studio sometime this summer.  In  the meantime if you are on Gabriola  and would like a studio visit please make an appointment by calling 250-741-7780 and I’ll be happy to meet with you at my temporary studio.  This past fall was a very productive time for me and I have a number of new paintings that have yet to go out into the world.

2009 HIGHLIGHTS

2009 was an eventful and busy year. A year filled with multiple moves, much painting and of course house hunting. After 20 years in Toronto this was most definitely a transition year to get established here on Gabriola.

In October I participated in Gabriola’s annual Thanksgiving Studio Tour. I was fortunate to be a guest in Jeff Molloy’s studio. It great way to meet so many people, interested in visual art, from both on and off the island. Thank you Jeff! I look forward to participating in the tour again this year. The dates for this year’s tour are October 9 -11. I’ll be showing in my new studio located at  2895 South Road.

One of the  highlights of 2009 was the annual paddling trip with “The Gibson Girls”  As many of you know we have been going on an week long trip of canoeing, camping  and artmaking for over 15 years. All of our previous trips have taken place  in Ontario. This year, curious about my new home on Gabriola 3 of the Gibson Girls  traveled here to join me explore this island. After trial run kayaking around the Flat Top Islands near  Gabriola  we were off to The Broken Group for our first kayak adventure on the Pacific Coast. The Gibson Girls – Yael Brotman, Karen Curry, Liz Parkinson, Snaige Sileika and MJ Steenberg are now planning our next canoe trip in Northern Ontario for August of 2010.

From June 23 to July 20, I had a solo exhibition of paintings and photographs at the Jeremy Maude Studio Gallery on Gabriola.  I also participated in a number of group exhibitions in Toronto and Vancouver.

I spent the first 3 months of 2009 working on paintings commissioned for 2 very interesting projects. These large paintings on birch panel are both works connected with my ongoing use of imagery exploring the skeletal ribs of boats. One painting, a diptych, “Return To Nuuk X”, 26” X 110” has now been installed in a private residence in Montreal. The other commission, “Return to Nuuk IX”, 24” X 72”, was installed in June in the lobby of 365 Waterfront in Victoria. After the many years spent working with skeletal boats as my subject matter it was a quite an experience to paint these large works overlooking the water  and the marina at Silva Bay.

In May of 2009, I   received an honourable mention for my print “A Thin Place I” from Open Studio’s National Printmaking Awards.

News Release: Toronto, ON - May 14, 2009—Open Studio, Canada's leading printmaking centre, is pleased to announce the winners of the second annual Open Studio National Printmaking Awards Open Studio’s 24th annual 100 Prints fundraising event at the Palais Royale.  The winners are First Prize ($3,000): Libby Hague (Toronto, ON) Second Prize ($1,500): Pawel Zablocki (Toronto, ON) Third Prize ($500): Loree Ovens (Toronto, ON)
 Artists Yael Brotman (Toronto, ON), Karen Curry (Gabriola Island, BC) and Midori Fullerton (Tottenham, ON) were also recognized with Honourable Mentions.

click here to read the artist's statement for A Thin Place

My work is currently available at the following locations:

AGO – ART RENTAL & SALES GALLERY
481 University Ave, Toronto, M5G 2E9
T.416-977-4654

OPEN STUDIO
401 Richmond St. W., Suite 104, Toronto, M5V 3A8
T.416-504-8238

ELLIOTT LOUIS GALLERY
1-258 East 1st Ave., Vancouver, BC, V5& 1A6
604-736-3282   www.elliottlouis.com

CONTACT - Please feel free to contact me for further information regarding exhibitions, availability of
artwork, commissions or to arrange a studio visit.

                                           karencurry.ca@gmail.com
                                           phone: 250-247-7464
                                           mobile: 250-714-7780